she was late

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "She was late" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a person's tardiness. For example, "She was late to school this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

She was late to her interview with Bre Pettis, who hated when his meetings started late.

The Washington Post

She was late, and in a panic.

The Guardian

She was late in life, yes.

The Guardian - Books

She was late delivering the manuscript.

The New York Times - Books

She was late for court dates, too.

The New Yorker

Maybe she was late, maybe it was malice.

Independent

Then she was late meeting her husband for lunch.

The New Yorker

She was late to work the next day.

The New Yorker

It wasn't that she was late in any prosaic sense.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

She is late to everything.

The New York Times - Sports

She's late.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the nuance you wish to convey: "she was delayed" suggests external factors caused the lateness, whereas "she was late" is a more general statement.

Common error

Avoid assuming the reason for someone's lateness without confirmation. Stating "she was late because she didn't care" is presumptuous. Instead, focus on the fact of the lateness itself unless you have verifiable information about the cause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was late" primarily functions as a declarative statement. It asserts a fact about a female subject being tardy. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely accepted in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

12%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she was late" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to describe a female individual's tardiness. As Ludwig AI affirms, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, and academia. While generally neutral in tone, the phrase's impact can vary depending on the circumstances surrounding the lateness. When using "she was late", ensure clarity about what the person was late for and avoid making assumptions about the reason for their tardiness. Consider using more formal alternatives like "she arrived late" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she arrived late

Focuses on the act of arriving, emphasizing the lateness of the arrival itself.

she was delayed

Highlights that something external caused her to be late.

she had a late arrival

Nominalizes the lateness, framing it as an attribute of her arrival.

she was unpunctual

Formally states her habitual lack of adherence to schedules.

she didn't arrive on time

Uses a negative construction to highlight the failure to meet the expected time.

she didn't make it on time

Emphasizes the failure to arrive within the allotted timeframe.

she missed the deadline

Specifically indicates failure to meet a set time for submission or completion.

she kept everyone waiting

Highlights the inconvenience caused by her lateness to others.

she was behind schedule

Suggests a delay in a series of events or tasks, not necessarily a single event.

she tarried

Implies a deliberate delay or lingering, adding a nuance of choice.

FAQs

How can I use "she was late" in a sentence?

You can use "she was late" to describe someone's tardiness in various situations. For example, "She was late to the meeting" or "She was late picking up her children from school".

What's a more formal way to say "she was late"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "she arrived late" or "she was delayed", depending on the specific context.

What are some common reasons why someone "she was late"?

People might be late due to various reasons such as traffic, unexpected delays, miscommunication, or personal issues. However, avoid making assumptions about the reason without knowing the specific details.

Is there a difference between "she was late" and "she is late"?

"She was late" refers to a past occurrence of lateness, while "she is late" indicates current lateness. The choice depends on whether you're referring to a past or present situation.